30/4. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1714d — Reasonable Feeding from Family Wealth
The case of Hind
Hadith About Wife Maintenance and Reasonable Feeding
Sahih Muslim : 1714d
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1714d
حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَخِي الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عَمِّهِ، أَخْبَرَنِي عُرْوَةُ بْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ، أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ جَاءَتْ هِنْدٌ بِنْتُ عُتْبَةَ بْنِ رَبِيعَةَ فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهِ مَا كَانَ عَلَى ظَهْرِ الأَرْضِ خِبَاءٌ أَحَبَّ إِلَىَّ مِنْ أَنْ يَذِلُّوا مِنْ أَهْلِ خِبَائِكَ وَمَا أَصْبَحَ الْيَوْمَ عَلَى ظَهْرِ الأَرْضِ خِبَاءٌ أَحَبَّ إِلَىَّ مِنْ أَنْ يَعِزُّوا مِنْ أَهْلِ خِبَائِكَ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " وَأَيْضًا وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ " . ثُمَّ قَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أَبَا سُفْيَانَ رَجُلٌ مِسِّيكٌ فَهَلْ عَلَىَّ حَرَجٌ مِنْ أَنْ أُطْعِمَ مِنَ الَّذِي لَهُ عِيَالَنَا فَقَالَ لَهَا " لاَ إِلاَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ " .
A'isha Narrated from:
Hind, daughter of Utba h. Rabi', came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said: Allah's Messenger, by Allah, there was no household upon the surface of the earth than your household about which I cherished that it should be disgraced. But today there is no household on the surface of the earth than your household about which I cherish that it be honoured Thereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said. It will increase, by Him in Whose Hand is my life.She then said: Messenger of Allah, Abu Sufyan is a niggardly person; is there any harm for me if I spend out of that which belongs to him on our children? He said to her: No, but only that what is reasonable.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1714dIn-book reference : Book 30, Hadith 11USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 18, Hadith 4254
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1714d
This narration of Hind’s case again centers on family maintenance. Hind described her changed feeling toward the Prophet’s household and then raised her concern that Abu Sufyan was tight with spending. She asked whether there was harm in feeding their children from what belonged to him. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم answered no, but only with what is reasonable. The wording is short but balanced. It gives space for the stated need while setting a clear limit. For searches like hadith about wife maintenance, take what is sufficient hadith, and reasonable spending in Islam, the teaching is to meet family needs without going past fairness.
What we learn from this hadith
- Feeding the children is directly named in the question.
- The answer permits only what is reasonable.
- The hadith keeps the focus on need, not excess.
